STAND. COM. REP. NO. 118

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 604

       S.D. 1

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 604 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PHYSICAL EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to promote the long-term physical health of public school students.

     Specifically, this measure requires the Department of Education to:

     (1)  Emphasize guiding students to make a commitment to lifelong physical activity and decreased sedentary behavior;

     (2)  Develop a developmentally appropriate course of study for physical education instruction for grades kindergarten through six to be taught by at least one licensed physical education teacher;

     (3)  Implement physical education instruction that complies with the Nation Association for Sports and Physical Education standards; and

     (4)  Allow high school principals to grant physical education credit to students participating in after-school athletic or co-curricular activities.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the American Heart Association, the Hawaii State Teachers Association, and eleven individuals.  Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by two individuals.

     Your Committee finds that childhood and adolescent obesity is at an all-time high and can lead to the development of life-long health problems.  Your Committee further finds that physical activity can have beneficial effects on one's long-term mental and physical health.  Studies have indicated that individuals who lead physically active lives as children are more likely to continue a pattern of physical activity into adulthood and are also associated with having higher levels of academic achievement.  Your Committee believes that our public schools must provide our students with appropriate physical activities and programs that promote a commitment to lifelong physical activity.  Such programs should include after-school and summer programs, taught by licensed physical education teachers, to continue to emphasize physical activity and active lifestyles outside of school hours. 

     Additionally, your Committee recognizes that appropriate physical education instruction is necessary for students in grades kindergarten through six and should be taught by licensed physical education teachers to ensure proper implementation and successful results.  For students in grades seven and eight, there has been a lack of standardized physical education instruction being followed.  The National Association for Sports and Physical Education has established appropriate standards, with which the Department of Education should be in general accordance.  Finally, your Committee recognizes that the benefits of physical education instruction can be realized in less than formal physical education instruction settings.  Your Committee determines that participation in after-school athletics or other co-curricular activities can have great value and provide additional ways for students to pursue physical health and activity. 

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Requiring the Department of Education to establish programs and activities that promote a commitment to lifelong physical activity, including after-school and summer programs taught by licensed physical education teachers;

     (2)  Clarifying that physical education instruction for grades six and seven should be generally in accordance with the National Association for Sports and Physical Education standards;

     (3)  Specifying that high school principals may grant credit to students for participation in after-school athletics and other co-curricular activities; provided that a licensed physical education teacher shall certify that the activity is generally in accordance with the Department's physical education instruction standards; and

     (4)  Making an appropriation for after-school and summer programs and activities, to be taught by licensed physical education teachers.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 604, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 604, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

____________________________

NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair